Electronic apparatus and method of initializing setting items thereof

ABSTRACT

An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus is controlled by using parameters relating to a plurality of setting items, including: a specifying unit performing an operation of specifying a setting item out of the plurality of setting items; and a display processing unit displaying a numeric keypad to input a parameter relating to the specified setting item and an initialization icon to initialize the specified setting item on a graphical user interface screen. Further, the electronic apparatus includes: an initial value storing unit storing initial values set/changed regarding the plurality of setting items; and an initialization processing unit returning the parameter of the specified setting item to the initial value based on an operation of the initialization icon.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject manner related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2005-326381 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Nov.10, 2005, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus controlled byusing parameters relating to plurality of setting items, particularly tothe electronic apparatus in which operability is improved wheninitializing individual setting items.

2. Description of the Related Art

There have been widely known various electronic apparatuses forcommercial and consumer use in which arbitrary parameters relating to aplurality of items for controlling the electronic apparatuses are inputto be set by a user using a numeric keypad or the like.

For example, an image switching apparatus called a “switcher” is knownas a kind of electronic apparatus for broadcasting use. The switcher isan apparatus for selecting a video signal among video signals input fromtwo or more channels (video signals from video camera, VCR, etc). Then,the switcher outputs a video signal to which an effect was applied tocause a transition from one video signal to the other video signal inthe selected two video signals.

For example, with respect to an effect, there has been commercialized aswitcher capable of arbitrarily inputting parameters by a numeric keypadon a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen, relating to a plurality ofsetting items including the following items:

(1) effect pattern; and(2) item relating to color of boundary line between two video signals onwhich transition is made.

A user can arbitrarily set those items to operate the switcher.Subsequently, the user may intend to initialize any of the setting items(for example, the user may intend to return the parameters to theinitial values set in a factory beforehand). Accordingly, a switchercapable of performing an operation to initialize individual settingitems on the GUI screen has been commercialized.

FIG. 1 shows such GUI screen. A “Default Recall” button for theinitialization is provided in the upper right on the screen. A pluralityof icons indicating grouped setting items are displayed in a main menucolumn in the center of the screen. An “Eff Ptn” among the iconsdisplayed is an icon relating to the above-described effect pattern (1).A “Color” is an icon relating to the above-described color of theboundary line (2).

An operational procedure for initializing individual setting items onthe GUI screen is explained in the followings. For example, in the casewhere a user initializes the setting regarding the color of the boundaryline, the icon “Color” on a main menu is pushed. Then, as shown in FIG.2, three icons “Lum”, “Sat” and “Hue” that represent luminance,saturation and hue, respectively are displayed in the lower side on thescreen.

For example, in the case where the luminance of the boundary line isinitialized, the “Default Recall” button is pushed, and then the icon“Lum” is pushed, thereby returning a parameter of the luminance of theboundary line to the initial value. Similarly, the “Default Recall”button is pushed, and then the icon “Sat” is pushed, thereby returning aparameter of the saturation of the boundary line to the initial value,and further similarly, the “Default Recall” button is pushed, and thenthe icon “Hue” is pushed, thereby returning a parameter of the hue ofthe boundary line to the initial value.

However, such electronic apparatus has a number of functions other thanthe function described in this specification. Therefore, it is difficultfor an operator practically using the apparatus to know all thefunctions and operational methods. Accordingly, an electronic apparatusin which an operational method of a desired function can be found easilywithout thoroughly reading an instruction manual has been desired.

Such GUI screen shown in this specification is one of the solutionsprovided for the above-described problem, on which string of charactersthat explains the functions, operational buttons and states of variousgraphics and character strings, and the like are displayed, therebyenabling the user to speculate the operational method only by viewingthose.

Note that FIGS. 1, 2 and other attached figures show only a portionrelating to characteristics according to embodiments of the presentinvention, however, a number of icons, buttons and the like aredisplayed in practice on the GUI screen of electronic apparatuses forcontrolling a number of functions. Accordingly, there may be the casewhere it is difficult for a user to find a desired icon or the like fromthe display of a number of icons and buttones, even if a string ofcharacters are displayed to explain the function thereof.

In this regard, there is a solution of preparing a screen having ahierarchical structure. Specifically, upon specifying (pushing) an iconindicating a category that a user intends to operate, a new screen(window) is popped up and displayed. Hence, operational objects arenarrowed down by focusing only within the popped-up display to beoperated, thereby obtaining a user-friendly interface in which searchtime is reduced.

In the procedure of the above-described related art electronicapparatus, when initializing a parameter, an icon of the relevantparameter is pushed after the “Default Recall” button was pushed. Here,although the “Default Recall” button is being displayed constantly onthe screen, there is such a problem of the purpose thereof and order ofuse not being clear for a user, when only viewing the screen.

In addition, in the case where a numerical value is input regarding aparameter (setting item), there is provided a method in which a numerickeypad is displayed with a pop-up by performing an operation thatspecifies the relevant parameter and then the numerical value is inputby the numeric keypad to be determined. With learning the inputoperation using such numeric keypad, there may be still such a problemthat it is difficult to assume the operation of “Default Recall” buttonof the above-mentioned related art and it is necessary to learn thatoperation separately.

Further, if a user pushes the icon “Fff Ptn” in the main menu on the GUIscreen in FIG. 1 to initialize the setting that relates to an effect,then an icon “Ptn No” that represents a pattern of the effect isdisplayed on the lower side of the screen, as shown in FIG. 3.

However, originally there is no initialized state in the switcherregarding the effect pattern (in other words, only the effect whosepattern number is input as a parameter by a user is implemented and aninitial value of the pattern number does not exist). Therefore, theinitialization thereof may not be performed in the above-describedswitcher.

However, a user is not informed of such case on the screen. Therefore,the user is convinced that setting of the effect pattern is initializedwhen the icon “Ptn No” is pushed after the “Default Recall” button waspushed, however, the effect pattern is not changed in practice.

As described above, it is difficult to distinguish an item having aninitialized state (having an initial value in a parameter) from an itemnot having an initialized state out of a plurality of setting items inthe initializing GUI screen for a commercialized related-art switcher.Hence, an unnecessary operation may be performed on the item not havingan initialized state, which results in less operability.

It should be noted that Japanese Patent Application Publication No.H7-297891 (paragraph numbers 0011 to 0014, FIGS. 2 to 4), for example,discloses a technology in which the operability is improved by changingthe function of a soft key in response to a shift of the electronicapparatus from a default (initial) state to the next state. However, thetechnology is not proposed to improve the operability when theinitialization is performed, but is proposed to improve the operabilitywhen gradually parting from the initial state. No documents have beenfound in a search regarding technology by which the operability isimproved when the initialization is performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is desirable to improve the operability when anindividual setting item is initialized in an electronic apparatus suchas a switcher that is controlled by using parameters relating to aplurality of setting items.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is providedan electronic apparatus controlled by using parameters relating to aplurality of setting items, including: specifying means, displayprocessing means, initial value storing means, and initializationprocessing means. The specifying means performs an operation ofspecifying a setting item out of the plurality of setting items. Thedisplay processing means displays a numeric keypad to input a parameterrelating to the specified setting item and an initialization icon toinitialize the specified setting item on a graphical user interface(GUI) screen. The initial value storing means stores initial valuesset/changed regarding the plurality of setting items. The initializationprocessing means returns the parameter of the specified setting item tothe initial value based on an operation of the initialization icon.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of initializing setting items in an electronicapparatus controlled by using parameters relating to a plurality ofsetting items. The method includes the steps of: storing initial valuesset/changed regarding the plurality of setting items; displaying anumeric keypad to input a parameter relating to a specified setting itemand an initialization icon to initialize the specified setting item on agraphical user interface (GUI) screen based on an operation thatspecifies a setting item out of the plurality of setting items; andreturning a parameter of the specified setting item to the initial valuebased on an operation of the initialization icon.

According to the embodiments, an initialization icon is displayed on theGUI screen, accompanying the display of a numeric keypad to whichattention is directed by a user when inputting parameters. Upon watchingthe display, the user can easily understand that the push-down of theinitialization icon acts only on a setting item (parameter) operated atpresent. Even if a number of other items have been displayed on the GUIscreen before the numeric keypad is popped up, an operation includingthe initialization can be performed with viewing only an area displayingthe numeric keypad during the operation using the numeric, keypad.Accordingly, the electronic apparatus capable of being easily learnedand having excellent operability can be provided.

According to further embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an electronic apparatus controlled by using parameters relatingto a plurality of setting items, including: specifying means, displayprocessing means, and initialization processing means. The specifyingmeans performs an operation of specifying a setting item out of theplurality of setting items. The display processing means displays on agraphical user interface screen a numeric keypad to input a parameterrelating to the specified setting item and an initialization icon toinitialize the specified setting item in the case of the setting itemspecified by the specifying means being an item having an initial valuein the parameter and may not display the initialization icon in the caseof the specified setting item being an item not having an initial valuein the parameter. The initialization processing means returns theparameter of the specified setting item to the initial value based on anoperation of the initialization icon.

According to further another embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided a method of initializing setting items in an electronicapparatus controlled by using parameters relating to a plurality ofsetting items. The method includes the step of displaying on a graphicaluser interface screen a numeric keypad to input a parameter relating toa specified setting item and an initialization icon to initialize thespecified setting item in the case of the specified setting item havingan initial value in the parameter and not displaying the initializationicon in the case of the specified setting item not having an initialvalue in the parameter, based on an operation specifying the settingitem out of the plurality of setting items. The method further includesthe step of returning the parameter of the specified setting item to theinitial value, based on an operation of the initialization icon.

According to the embodiments, when a user performs an operation ofspecifying a setting item desired to be initialized, a GUI screen isdisplayed as explained in the followings. Specifically, the GUI screenin the case of the specified setting item having an initialized state(having an initial value in the parameter) is different from that in thecase of the specified setting item not having an initialized state.

[Having Initialized State]

A numeric keypad to input parameters, and an initialization icon toinitialize a specified setting item are displayed.

[Not Having Initialized State]

A numeric keypad is displayed, but an initialization icon is notdisplayed.

A user can easily and exactly check whether or not the specified settingitem is capable of being initialized, based on the display with orwithout the initialization icon.

Then, in the case of the initialization icon being displayed, thesetting item specified by the user is initialized by operating the icon(the parameter is returned to the initial value).

Further, even in the case where an initialization icon is not displayed(the initialization may be impossible), as an alternative measureinstead of the initialization, the setting regarding that item can beperformed again immediately by the numeric keypad being displayed.

As described above, according to the embodiments, a user can easily andexactly check whether or not a setting item specified to be initializedis capable of being initialized in an electronic apparatus controlled byusing parameters relating to a plurality of setting items, where itemscapable of being initialized and items incapable of being initializedcoexist. Therefore, an initializing operation (operation of aninitialization icon) can be performed only in the case of the itemcapable of being initialized. Hence, an unnecessary operation on theitems incapable of being initialized can be prevented and theoperability when initializing an individual setting item can beimproved.

According to the embodiments, a user can easily find an initializationprocedure for the setting item to be input at present without searchingon a wide GUI screen. Therefore, the procedure can be learned withoutdifficulty and the operability can be improved.

Further, according to the embodiments, an unnecessary operation on itemsincapable of being initialized can be prevented, when a user initializesan individual setting item in an electronic apparatus controlled byusing parameters relating to a plurality of setting items, where itemscapable of being initialized and items incapable of being initializedcoexist, thereby improving an operability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a GUI screen for initialization in a switcherof related art;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a GUI screen for initialization in a switcherof related art;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a GUI screen for initialization in a switcherof related art;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the whole configuration of a switcherto which an embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing examples of an effect pattern;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing examples of a position and width ofa boundary line;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a GUI screen for initialization in the switcherin FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a GUI screen for initialization in the switcherin FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a GUI screen for initialization in the switcherin FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a GUI screen for initialization in theswitcher in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a GUI screen for initialization in theswitcher in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a GUI screen for initialization in theswitcher in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 13 is a view showing a GUI screen for initialization in theswitcher in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention, to which a switcherfor broadcasting is applied, is specifically explained with reference tothe drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematicconfiguration of a switcher to which an embodiment of the presentinvention is applied. The switcher is configured to have a switcher body1 and a control panel 2.

The switcher body 1 includes an input selecting circuit 3, an imagesynthesizing circuit 4, an internal signal generating circuit 5 and acontrol unit 6. Further, video signals from two or more channels (videosignals from video cameras and VTRs, etc.) are input to the switcherbody 1 from input lines 7 a to 7 f.

The input selecting circuit 3 includes a selective switch group inmatrix shape that connects each of the input lines 7 a to 7 f to inputbuses 3 a, 3 b, and a video signal from one input line can be selectedin each of the input buses 3 a, 3 b. Two video signals selected from theinput buses 3 a, 3 b are transmitted to the image synthesizing circuit4.

The image synthesizing circuit 4 applies an effect, by which transitionis made from one video signal to the other video signal out of the twovideo signals selected by the input selecting circuit 3, to the videosignal output from the switcher body 1.

The internal signal generating circuit 5 generates a video signal usedto display a boundary line between two video signals when the imagesynthesizing circuit 4 applies the effect, and the video signalgenerated by this internal signal generating circuit 5 is alsotransmitted to the image synthesizing circuit 4.

The control unit 6 is configured to have a micro computer and acommunication interface, and controls the whole of the switcher body 1based on information transmitted from the control panel 2.

The control panel 2 includes an operational unit 8, a GUI unit 9 and acontrol unit 10. Although not illustrated in the figure, the operationalunit 8 includes various operational portions (an operational button forselecting a video signal in the input selecting circuit 3, a fader leverfor manually adjusting an output ratio of two video signals from theimage synthesizing circuit 4, etc.) for operating the switcher body 1.

The GUI unit 9 is provided to perform settings of various items foroperating the switcher body 1 before the switcher body 1 is operated bythe operational unit 8. The GUI unit 9 is configured to have a liquidcrystal display with a touch panel, and the settings are performed onthe GUI screen displayed on this liquid crystal display.

The control unit 10 is configured to have a micro computer and acommunication interface, and transmits information indicating anoperational result in the operational unit 8 and a setting result in theGUI unit 9 to the control unit 6 in the switcher body 1.

In the GUI unit 9, regarding an effect for example, parameters canarbitrarily be input to a plurality of setting items including thefollowing items (1) to (3):

(1) effect pattern;(2) item relating to color of boundary line between two video signals onwhich transition is made; and(3) position and width of the boundary line appeared.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing examples of the pattern capable ofbeing set as the above item (1). When inputting a certain pattern number(integer number) as a parameter relating to an effect pattern, suchpattern is set in which a different image (indicated with a slash line)appears from one end of the screen displaying an image at present(indicated with a white ground), as shown in FIG. 5A. Then, the ratio ofthe different image gradually increases, and finally the different imagecompletely replaces the image at present.

Further, when another pattern number is input as a parameter relating toan effect pattern, such pattern is set in which a different image(indicated with a slash line) appears from within the screen displayingan image at present (indicated with a white ground), as shown in FIG.5B. Then, the ratio of the different image gradually increases, andfinally the different image completely replaces the image at present.

The above item (2) is provided for the settings of luminance, saturationand hue (for example, setting to bright, vivid blue, or to dark muddyred) of the boundary line (a vertical line in FIG. 5A and a line forminga diamond shape in FIG. 5B) between the two video signals on whichtransition is made as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Parameters of luminance,saturation and hue are input with a decimal value (numerical value withtwo decimal places), respectively.

The above item (3) is provided for the settings of a position and widthof the boundary line appeared as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIGS. 6A and6B are diagrams, showing the appeared position and width of thediamond-shaped boundary line in an example of the effect pattern shownin FIG. 5B.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of a position appeared, and aposition p appeared to be a diamond shape is set in the center of screenin a figure on the left side, and the position p is appeared toward thelower left deviating from the center of screen in a figure on the rightside. Regarding a position appeared, a parameter that represents thecenter of screen is defined as “0”, and a parameter of a position in thehorizontal direction of the screen is input in the range of −4.00 to4.00, and a parameter of a position in the vertical direction of thescreen is input in the range of −3.00 to 3.00.

FIG. 6B is a diagram showing an example of a setting result of thewidth, and the width of the diamond-shaped boundary line bd is thin inthe figure on the left side and the width of the diamond-shaped boundaryline bd is thick in the figure on the right side. A parameter of thewidth is also input by a decimal value (numerical value with two decimalplaces).

Among those setting items (1) to (3), an initial value was set in afactory for the items (2) and (3), and the initial value can be changedon the GUI screen by a user. However, as for the item (1), the initialvalue does not exist (no initial value has been set regarding thepattern number, and only the effect whose pattern number is input as aparameter by the user is implemented).

As described above, items having initial values and items not havinginitial values coexist with, respect to items set for the switcher body1. The control unit 10 (shown in FIG. 4) separately stores varioussetting items for the switcher body 1 by discriminating the items havinginitial values and the items not having initial values, and also storesinitial values at present regarding the items having initial values(initial values set in a factory in the case where a user has notchanged the initial values, and initial values after the change in thecase where the user has changed the initial values). Further explainingthe storage of the initial values, the apparatus includes the functionof storing a value set by a user as the present initial value for eachitem. The user can set an initial value (User Default) and can returnthe present initial value to the value set at the time of factoryshipment (Factory Default) when canceling the User Default. The settingof such initial value can be obtained easily by using the GUI screen.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a GUI screen displayed in the GUI unit 9 toinput parameters relating to those setting items and to initializeindividual setting items. A plurality of icons indicating groupedsetting items are displayed in a main menu column in the center of thescreen. Among the icons displayed, an “Eff Ptn” is that relating to theeffect of the above (1). A “Color” is that relating to the color of theboundary line of the above (2). A “position” is that relating to theappeared position and width of the boundary line of the above (3). Itshould be noted that in the attached drawings including FIG. 7, only thedisplay that relates to the characteristics according to the embodimentis indicated on the GUI screen, however, many other characters, iconsand the like are displayed on the GUI screen in a practical apparatus.

For example, a user pushes the icon “Color” in the main menu on the GUIscreen. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, three icons “Lum”, “Sat” and “Hue”that represent luminance, saturation and hue respectively, which aresetting items regarding the color of the boundary line, are displayed onthe bottom side of the screen. Parameter values on the presentluminance, saturation and hue are displayed using a bar graph andnumerical value in respective icons “Lum”, “Sat”, “Hue”. As mentionedabove, initial values exist regarding the luminance, saturation and hueof the boundary line.

For example, the user pushes the icon “Lum” in the case where the userintends to initialize the setting regarding the luminance of theboundary line. Then, a pop-up screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayedwith another window in the GUI unit 9 separately from the screen shownin FIG. 8 under the control of the control unit 10 (shown in FIG. 4).

A “Default Recall” button 22 used for initialization is displayed on thepop-up screen as well as a numeric keypad 21. In addition, a displaycolumn 23 where a numerical value input by the numeric keypad 21 and a“Close” button 24 for closing the pop-up screen are also displayed.Since the “Default Recall” button 22 is displayed on the pop-up screen,the user can easily assume that the button 22 is provided to initializea target setting item “Lum” (luminance) at present. Further, the usercan check easily and exactly that the luminance of the boundary line isan item capable of being initialized.

When the user pushes the “Default Recall” button 22 on, the pop-upscreen, the control unit 10 returns the parameter of the luminance ofthe boundary line to the initial value and the pop-up screen is closed.Further, although not shown in the drawing, the bar graph and numericalvalue in the icon “Lum” on the screen in FIG. 8 are changed to show theinitial value under the control of the control unit 10.

Also, in the case where the icon “Sat” is pushed on the screen in FIG.8, the same pop-up screen as that shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. Then,when the “Default Recall” button 22 is pushed, the control unit 10returns the parameter of the saturation of the boundary line to theinitial value and this pop-up screen is closed. Then, the bar graph andnumerical value in the icon “sat” on the screen in FIG. 8 are changed toshow the initial value.

Also, in the case where the icon “Hue” is pushed on the screen in FIG.8, the same pop-up screen as that shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. Then,when the “Default Recall” button 22 is pushed, the control unit 10returns the parameter of the hue of the boundary line to the initialvalue and this pop-up screen is closed. Then, the bar graph andnumerical value in the icon “Hue” on the screen in FIG. 8 are changed toshow the initial value.

It should be noted that when an arbitrary parameter is input using thenumeric keypad 21 instead of pushing the “Default Recall” button 22after the pop-up screen in FIG. 9 was displayed by pushing the icon“Lum”, “Sat” or “Hue” on the screen in FIG. 8 and an “Enter” key ispushed, the control unit 10 sets the luminance, saturation or hue of theboundary line in accordance with the input result, and this pop-upScreen is closed. Then, the bar graph and numerical value in the icon“Lum”, “Sat” or “Hue” on the screen in FIG. 8 are changed to show thevalue input by the numeric keypad 21 under the control of the controlunit 10.

Further, when the “Close” button 24 is pushed instead of pushing the“Default Recall” button 22 after the pop-up screen in FIG. 9 wasdisplayed, this pop-up screen is immediately closed.

For example, the user pushes the icon “Eff Ptn” in the main menu on theGUI screen in FIG. 7. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the icon “Ptn No” thatrepresents the effect pattern (see FIGS. 5A and 5B) is displayed on thebottom side of the screen. A pattern number set at present is displayedin the icon “Ptn No”. As mentioned above, regarding this pattern number,the initial value does not exist.

If the user pushes the icon “Ptn No” to initialize the effect pattern, apop-up screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed in the GUI unit 9 withanother window separately from the screen in FIG. 10 under the controlof the control unit 10.

Although the same numeric keypad 21, display column 23 and “Close”button 24 as those on the pop-up screen shown in FIG. 9 are displayed onthe pop-up screen, the “Default Recall” button such as that on thepop-up screen in FIG. 9 is not displayed. Since the “Default Recall”button is not displayed on the pop-up screen, the user can check easilyand exactly that the effect pattern is an item incapable of beinginitialized.

After the user checks that the effect pattern may not be initialized asdescribed above, the pop-up screen is immediately closed by pushing the“Close” button 24. Alternatively, as a measure equivalent to theinitialization, the effect pattern can be set again immediately by thenumeric keypad 21 (in that case, the pattern number in the icon “Ptn No”on the screen in FIG. 10 is changed to show the value input by thenumeric keypad 21 under the control of the control unit 10).

For example, the user pushes the icon “Position” in the main menu on theGUI screen in FIG. 7. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, three icons “H Pos”, “VPos” and “Width”, which represent respectively a position of theboundary line appeared in the horizontal direction, a position thereofappeared in the vertical direction and the width thereof (see FIGS. 6Aand 6B) are displayed on the bottom side of the screen. In respectiveicons “H Pos”, “V Pos” and “Width” are displayed the parameter values onthe position appeared in the horizontal direction, on the positionappeared in the vertical direction and on the width at present by thebar graph and numerical value. As is mentioned above, regarding theappeared position and width of the boundary line, the initial valueexists.

For example, the user pushes the icon “H Pos” in the case ofinitializing the setting regarding the position appeared in thehorizontal direction of the boundary line. Then, under the control ofthe control position 10, a pop-up screen as shown in FIG. 13 isdisplayed in the GUI unit 9 with another window separately from thescreen in FIG. 12.

The pop-up screen is the same as that shown in FIG. 9. Since the“Default Recall” button 22 is displayed on this pop-up screen, the usercan check easily and exactly that the position appeared in thehorizontal direction of the boundary line is an item capable of beinginitialized.

When the user pushes the “Default Recall” button 22 on the pop-upscreen, the control unit 10 returns the parameter of the positionappeared in the horizontal direction of the boundary line to the initialvalue, and this pop-up screen is closed. Further, under the control ofthe control unit 10, the bar graph and numerical value in the icon “HPos” on the screen in FIG. 12 are changed to show the initial value.

Further, in the case where the icon “V Pos” is pushed on the screen inFIG. 12, the same pop-up screen as that shown in FIG. 13 is displayed.Then, when the “Default Recall” button 22 is pushed, the control unit 10returns the parameter of the position appeared in the vertical directionof the boundary line to the initial value and this pop-up screen isclosed. Then, the bar graph and numerical value in the icon “V Pos” onthe screen in FIG. 12 are changed to show the initial value.

Further, in the case where the icon “width” is pushed on the screen inFIG. 12, the same pop-up screen as that shown in FIG. 13 is displayed.Then, when the “Default Recall” button 22 is pushed, the control unit 10returns the parameter of the position appeared in the vertical directionof the boundary line to the initial value and this pop-up screen isclosed. Then, the bar graph and numerical value in the icon “Width” onthe screen in FIG. 12 are changed to show the initial value.

Further, when an arbitrary parameter is input using the numeric keypad21 instead of pushing the “Default Recall” button 22 after the pop-upscreen in FIG. 13 was displayed by pushing the icon “H Pos”, “V Pos” or“Width” on the screen in FIG. 12 and an “Enter” key is pushed, thecontrol unit 10 sets the position appeared in the horizontal directionof the boundary line, the position appeared in the vertical directionthereof and the width thereof in accordance with the input result, andthis pop-up screen is closed. Then, the bar graph and numerical value inthe icon “H Pos”, “V Pos” or “Width” on the screen in FIG. 8 are changedto show the value input by the numeric keypad 21 under the control ofthe control unit 10.

Further, when the “Close” button 24 is pushed instead of pushing the“Default Recall” button 22 after the pop-up screen in FIG. 13 wasdisplayed, this pop-up screen is immediately closed.

Hence, regarding the above-described switcher, a user can check easilyand exactly whether a setting item specified to be initialized on theGUI screen in FIG. 7 is capable of being initialized, based on the“Default Recall” button being displayed or not on the pop-up screen (seeFIGS. 9, 11 and 13). Therefore, the initializing operation (operation ofthe “Default Recall” button) can be implemented only in the case wherethe item is capable of being initialized. Accordingly, an unnecessaryoperation on the items incapable of being initialized is prevented andthe operability when initializing individual setting items can beimproved.

It should be noted that in the above-described embodiment an itemdesired to be initialized is specified by pushing the icon of the “Lum”,“Sat”, “Hue”, “Ptn No” or the like displayed on the bottom side of theGUI screen in FIG. 7, and then the pop-up screen with the numeric keypadis displayed after pushing that icon.

However, there is provided another embodiment in which a unique itemnumber is given to each of setting items including luminance,saturation, hue of the boundary line, an effect pattern, or the like,and a numeric keypad is displayed on the GUI screen in advance. Then,the setting item desired to be initialized may be specified by inputtingthe item number using the numeric keypad. A “Default Recall” button maybe displayed in the vicinity of the numeric keypad in the case where anitem number of the item having an initial value in a parameter is input.The “Default Recall” button may not be displayed in the case where anitem number of the item not having an initial value in the parameter isinput. Accordingly, the numeric keypad to input parameters can also beused as a tool to specify the setting item desired to be initialized.

In addition, in the above embodiment, when the “Default Recall” button22 is pushed on the pop-up screen in FIG. 9, this pop-up screen isclosed.

However, there is provided another embodiment in which the operation bythe “Default Recall” button 22 may be performed in the following manner.The parameter is not immediately returned to the initial value but theinitial value is displayed in the display column 23 on the pop-up screenin the numeric keypad, when the “Default Recall” button 22 is pushed.Then, if the “Enter” key is pushed, that value is fixed, morespecifically, the parameter will be the initial value. On the otherhand, if the “Close” button 24 is pushed, the pop-up screen is closedwithout that value being the initial value and doing anything. Accordingto this embodiment, whether the value is practically applied as theinitial value can be judged after checking the content of the initialvalue on the pop-up screen. Particularly, it is useful for a user tocheck the value before application in the case where the user has set upthe initial value.

Furthermore, although the above-mentioned embodiments are applied to aswitcher, embodiments of the present invention can be applied to anyelectronic apparatus for commercial/consumer use including a GUI andbeing controlled by parameters relating to a plurality of setting itemsincluding an item having an initial value. Moreover, embodiments of thepresent invention can be applied to any electronic apparatus forcommercial/consumer use being controlled by using parameters relating toa plurality of setting items including an item having an initial valueand an item not having an initial value coexisted.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1-11. (canceled)
 12. An electronic apparatus comprising: selecting meansfor selecting a setting item from a plurality of setting items beingdisplayed on a graphical user interface screen; and display processingmeans for displaying, on the graphical user interface screen, a pop-upscreen on which a numeric keypad to input a parameter relating to theselected setting item is displayed, when a particular setting item isselected, wherein upon selection of the particular setting item, a usercan check whether the selected particular setting item is initialized,wherein the pop-up screen is independent of the graphical user interfacescreen.
 13. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12, furthercomprising: displaying an initialization icon on the graphical userinterface.
 14. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 13, whereinwhen the initialization icon is removed from the graphical userinterface screen when the selected particular setting item is notinitialized.
 15. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12,further comprising: determining whether the selected particular settingitem is capable of being initialized.
 16. The electronic apparatus asclaimed in claim 15, further comprising: initializing the selectedparticular setting item when the selected particular setting item iscapable of being initialized.
 17. The electronic apparatus as claimed inclaim 12, further comprising: assigning an initial value to the selectedparticular setting item; and closing the pop-up screen.
 18. Anelectronic apparatus comprising: selecting means for selecting a settingitem from a plurality of setting items being displayed on a graphicaluser interface screen; display processing means for displaying, on thegraphical user interface screen: a pop-up screen on which a numerickeypad to input a parameter relating to the selected setting item isdisplayed when a particular setting item is selected, and aninitialization icon that initializes a parameter relating to theselected setting item, wherein the pop-up screen is independent of thegraphical user interface screen, and wherein upon selection of aninitialization icon, the parameter relating to the selected setting itemis set to an initial value.
 19. A method of initializing setting itemsin an electronic apparatus controlled by using parameters relating to aplurality of setting items, comprising the steps of: displaying aninitialization icon to initialize a specified setting item on agraphical user interface screen in the case of said specified settingitem having an initial value in the parameter, and not displaying saidinitialization icon in the case of said specified setting item nothaving an initial value in the parameter, based on an operation ofspecifying the setting item out of said plurality of setting items; andreturning the parameter of said specified setting item to said initialvalue, based on an operation of said initialization icon, wherein thedisplay of the initialization icon is determined based on whether thesetting item has an initial value, wherein the plurality setting itemsset initial parameters for at least an effect pattern, a color ofboundary lines, and a width of the boundary lines for a transition froma first video signal to a second video signal, and wherein the returningstep returns a user-set parameter of said specified setting item to avalue set upon a factory shipment of the electronic apparatus by theoperation of the initialization icon.
 20. An electronic apparatuscontrolled by using parameters relating to a plurality of setting items,comprising: a specifying unit performing an operation of specifying asetting item out of said plurality of setting items; a displayprocessing unit displaying on a graphical user interface screen aninitialization icon to initialize a specified setting item; an initialvalue storing unit storing initial values set/changed regarding saidplurality of setting items; and an initialization processing unitreturning the parameter of said specified setting item to said initialvalue based on an operation of said initialization icon, wherein thedisplay of the initialization icon is determined based on whether thesetting item has an initial value, wherein the plurality setting itemsset initial, parameters for at least an effect pattern, a color ofboundary lines, and a width of the boundary lines for a transition froma first video signal to a second video signal, and wherein theinitialization processing unit returns a user-set parameter of saidspecified setting item to a value set upon a factory shipment of theelectronic apparatus by the operation of the initialization icon.